Science

Science Curriculum Overview & Skills Progression 2021-2022

Science Curriculum Overview and Skills Progression inc EYFS 21-22.pdf

Our Science Subject Leader is Mrs B Masheter.

We follow the National Curriculum for science - see our Curriculum overview about for full details of our curriculum or follow the link below to the National Curriculum website for further details.

For the full programme of study for KS1 and KS2, follow the link below to the National Curriculum.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-curriculum-in-england-science-programmes-of-study/national-curriculum-in-england-science-programmes-of-study

Science Curriculum Statement

Intent

At Grange Primary School, we aim to give every child a broad and balanced Science curriculum which enables them to confidently explore and discover what is around them, so that they have a deeper understanding of the world we live in. We want our children to love science and develop a genuine curiosity about the world around us. We want them to have no limits to what their ambitions are and grow up wanting to be astronauts, forensic scientists, toxicologists or microbiologists. We want our children to remember their science lessons in our school, to cherish these memories and embrace the scientific opportunities they are presented with! To achieve this, we develop their understanding of nature, processes and methods of science through different types of science enquiries that help them to answer scientific questions about the world around them

Our aim is that these stimulating and challenging experiences help every child secure and extend their scientific knowledge and vocabulary, as well as promoting a love and thirst for learning. At Grange Primary School, we have a coherently planned and sequenced curriculum which has been carefully designed and developed with the need of every child at the centre of what we do. We want to equip our children with not only the minimum statutory requirements of the science National Curriculum but to prepare them for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life.

We were proudly awarded the Primary Science Quality Mark which developed and articulated a clear intent and aspirational vision for science.

Implementation

At Grange Primary School, Science topics are taught within each year group in accordance with the National Curriculum.

Topics are blocked to allow children to focus on developing their knowledge and skills, studying each topic in depth.
Within each topic, we start with a lesson that focuses on a working scientifically skill.
Every year group will build upon the learning from prior year groups therefore developing depth of understanding and progression of skills.
Children explore, question, predict, plan, carry out investigations and observations as well as conclude their findings. We develop specific working scientifically skills through each unit to ensure even coverage of the skills across the curriculum.
Children present their findings and learning using science specific language, observations and diagrams.
In order to support children in their ability to ‘know more and remember more’ there are regular opportunities to review the learning taken place in previous topics as well as previous lessons.
At the start of each topic children will review previous learning and will have the opportunity to share what they already know about a current topic.
Effective CPD and standardisation opportunities are available to staff to ensure high levels of confidence and knowledge are maintained.
Effective use of education visits and visitors are planned, to enrich and enhance the pupil’s learning experiences within the Science curriculum.
So much of science lends itself to outdoor learning, and so we provide children with opportunities to experience this, such as minibeast hunts, trips to Beacon Fell and tree identification.
Teachers use highly effective assessment for learning in each lesson to ensure misconceptions are highlighted and addressed.
Effective modelling by teachers ensures that children are able to achieve their learning intention, with misconceptions addressed within it.
Through using a range of assessment tools, differentiation is facilitated by teachers, to ensure that each pupil can access the Science curriculum.
Pupils are regularly given the opportunity for self or peer assessment, which will then be used to inform planning, preparation, differentiation and address misconceptions within that lesson, or for the next lesson.
Cross-curricular links are planned for, with other subjects such as Maths and English.

Impact

The successful approach to the teaching of science at Grange Primary School results in a fun, engaging, high-quality science education, that provides children with the foundations for understanding the world that they can take with them once they complete their primary education. Pupil voice is used to further develop the science curriculum, through questioning of pupils’ views and attitudes towards science, to assess the children’s enjoyment of science, and to motivate learners. In addition, we measure the impact of our curriculum through the following methods: